EVOLUTION OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY MAIN THEME FROM FF1-15

I created this video in support for Final Fantasy's 30th anniversary! You can skip to each version of the original theme using the time stamps found below.
The original main theme for final fantasy first started playing in Final Fantasy I for the NES back when it was first released in 1987. I've put together all of the original final fantasy main themes from 1987-2016.
This theme is considered to be the main theme of Final Fantasy because of it's re-occurrence throughout the majority of the main title FF games. FF2, FF10, and FF13 are the only final fantasy games to not play this theme during any part of the game.
Final Fantasy I (00:00 - 2:54)
Final Fantasy III (2:55 - 3:59)
Final Fantasy IV (4:01 - 5:53)
Final Fantasy V (5:54 - 9:24)
Final Fantasy VI (9:24 - 11:27)
Final Fantasy VII (11:29 - 14:47)
Final Fantasy VIII (14:48 - 17:45)
Final Fantasy IX (17:46 - 19:31)
Final Fantasy XI (19:32 - 25:10)
Final Fantasy XII (25:11 - 28:22)
Final Fantasy XIV (28:23 - 31:58)
Final Fantasy XV (31:59 - 33:48)

[@CIoudStrife]

The orchestra performance of 15 is really an art.

[@Zaeld]

Yeah this theme song is very nostalgic and even when it's 'modernized' it still sounds amazing. The original composer (uematsu) has created a lot of masterful sound tracks for this game that still sound good even today.

[@boopnoodle6947]

It has the goddess yoko’s touch on it😭 amazing

[@cacadordecalango3866]

Oh nice i was searching this. Good video!👍🏼

[@Zaeld]

Thank you!

[@miormuhamadhafiz3862]

That FFXV ending is the saddest, knowing how it ended.

[@terry85mar]

The majority of people have no idea what you're talking about because that game was complete trash and I doubt most people got much further than a couple hours in. This x2 13 through lightning returns are not worthy of being called final fantasy games. More like let's try and milk as much money as possible by tricking people by using the final fantasy name.

[@R3zzAzur3]

@@terry85mar final fantasy XV still have good gameplay tho,but for story it's absolutely garbage

[@marctosh705]

@@terry85mar well 16 is meant to go back to older style of story so let’s hope it’s good. though the main guy looks like he’s straight off of 15 though

[@D71219ONE]

@@R3zzAzur3 Man, I just loved the beginning, hanging out with the bros, driving around in our royal car. I know a lot of people hated the entire game, but the beginning was so fun. I just want to chill at Galdin Quay with my bros. 😅

[@minimayhem86]

@Zaeld The evolution of the FF main theme tune (along with the FF prelude aswell) are just amazing. Two of the most iconic themes in video game history. XV’s is so beautifully composed - the way that it starts to build up to the crescendo at the end starting from 33:10 it’s just stunning. It was actually such a really apt & fitting end to your vid because of XV’s melodic changes & composition, it sounds so grand & fairytale like, kind of like the ending music to a Disney movie in its quality - listening to it just now made me emotional 🥹 Yoko Shimomura is a legend. Also with it being the final track on your vid, it really epitomises & real representation of how the music has evolved over the last 36yrs. FFVII’s one is so special & means a lot to me too, it fills me with so much nostalgia of how I felt when I came to the end of VII’s amazing journey when I first heard it all those yrs ago 🥹 I adore Nobou Uematsu - another absolute legend; the godfather of FF OST’s ❤ I was so happy when I found out he was coming back to compose FFVIIRemake. I hope he is also doing FFVIIRebirth! I can’t wait to hear the rendition for the FF theme for VII at the end of the trilogy 💚

[@Zaeld]

This is an amazing comment. I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Uematsu has always been one of my favourite composers and i wish he would compose for a main final fantasy game title again. Can you imagine the nostalgia? it would feel like a real final fantasy game just by his music a lone c:

[@minimayhem86]

@@Zaeld Aw thanks 😊 I honestly did feel emotional just listening to XV’s right at the end there, it’s just stunning & really did epitomise how the music has evolved in such a beautiful way & such a fitting end to your vid 🥲And yeah I adore Uematsu’s he’s awesome - and the rearrangement of the OG FFVII tracks in FFVII remake were just absolutely stunning. When I opened the menu on remake for the first time playing it & heard the prelude, I just let it play out & listened to it, eyes filling up coz it was just so beautiful; it was a new composition, but he captured the nostalgia in it still so beautifully, it took me back to the day I first heard it as a kid all them 26yrs ago 🥹 Idk if he’s coming back for FFVIIRebirth tho coz a lot of articles were saying he’s taking a break from composing coz he’s not in good heath or something, I was gutted to hear he may not be doing it coz those are synonymous to him, they’re epic coz of him & so would be kinda sad if someone else was to do the OST 😞

[@Zaeld]

@@minimayhem86 Yeah uematsu's music makes me happy. There's so much care and hard work that you can tell he puts in his composition that make his music so good in these FF titles.

[@minimayhem86]

@@Zaeld If they use the OG VII version of the main theme at the end of the FFVII Remake series, just imagine how stunning it’s gonna sound now that they can have proper orchestra on tracks not just synthesised sounds like back in the day, it will sound so epic like XV’s did; esp from this part 14:18 to the end. (Again thought it was a fitting & apt choice of clip you used for this part 😊 was there a reason you only used the menu screen for XV in the vid tho? 🤔 coz woulda been nice if there was there was some clios for it too😔) I really hope Uematsu is fit enough to come back to compose on the remake series tho, he did such a great job in pt 1. ❤

[@Zaeld]

@@minimayhem86 I was thinking of adding clips to it but than decided i'd just end the video off simply. Looking back tho showing some scenes may have been a good idea.

[@TheHunchy101]

Thanks for making and uploading this video 😄

[@Zaeld]

I'm glad you like it! =)

[@leapple6055]

Super vidéo je m'abonne

[@Zaeld]

merci beaucoup :)

[@doubled1212]

Dunno why man, but i bursted out cryin

[@Zaeld]

Yeah just thinking about all the good times we had playing these games as a kid with this theme in the background makes it pretty emotional.

[@kravenor6369]

This isn't the Final Fantasy Main Theme. This is the Final Fantasy Anthem lol. That such an epic, nostalgic piece of music exists is beyond imagining. Thanks Nobou Uematsu

[@Zaeld]

I'm glad you enjoy this Krave! It was always my favourite theme from the game/series.

[@Onistuwa]

nice!!!!

[@Zaeld]

I'm glad you like it!

[@agedstring]

I was first introduced to this theme from VIII's end theme. I didn't know on what it was, but after listening to the others, this, as well as VX, will forever be my favorite arrangement of the theme. Also, I do think X should've had a FF theme arrangement, considering it would've been the Final Fantasy game (pun fully intended) considering it was released during Square's hardest financial years (The Spirits Within and all) even if they lacked foresight.

[@Zaeld]

I definitely agree with you about FFX needing one. It would have been nice for all the FF's to have it but this theme being missed in only 3 FF games out of 15 isn't too bad. I'm not sure yet if it's in FF16.

[@lucyhardy-styles-shield2728]

​@@Zaeldthey didn't put the theme in, but referenced the name of the franchise instead

[@Zaeld]

@@lucyhardy-styles-shield2728 ahh...that's a shame...thanks for letting me know!

[@NommNomm]

what is the title of the song cause i want ot get it in ffxiv so i can play it

[@Zaeld]

It also goes by *Opening theme* and *prologue*

[@Sllandre]

The orchestrion roll is called A World Apart

[@pxpx424]

Memories…

[@fryj2902]

i love the theme song from FF11. its so good

[@Zaeld]

Me too. it's different than the main title FFs but still feels similar at the sametime. It's also really calming too. They did a good job with the main theme for that game.

[@IanLorenz]

FFXII was when I realized this was the FF main theme

[@keiisan]

Yes,and it's played every end of chapters not only in credit scene 😊

[@nochtrollsegundoh3220]

Why there is not ffII?

[@Zaeld]

Some Final Fantasy games don't have this main theme. I think only 3 FF games don't have it.

[@D71219ONE]

FFVI feels like the perfect version before the CD era. The FFVIII version feels like the perfect rendition since the CD era, and the best overall version. Regardless of my negative feelings on the gameplay, you can’t tell me FFVIII doesn’t have the greatest video game soundtrack ever.

[@terry85mar]

I've played and beat 7 completely literally at least 20 times and also own the original soundtrack which I know by heart and this theme is not in ff7. The prelude is but not this track.

[@martininho001]

It definitely is in FFVII. It’s the end part of Staff Roll, what are you talking about?

[@minimayhem86]

Were you asleep all those 20 times you played’ it 🤪🫠😂 it’s on the ending credits….

[@pokechill3219]

FFVII OST - Ending Credits Timestamp: 3:30 there